New dentures won't go back in!

[Wendy]

Hi, I had 6 teeth removed on top last Tuesday, and got immediate dentures, plus a partial on the bottom(didn't need any extractions there). My problem is I cannot get my top plate back in. I took it out on the dentist's order the next day because of extreme pain and the denture had cut my tongue. I can't get back in to see my dentist for a few more days as I have to work and my husband has had a medical emergency. Can anyone give me any advise as how I can get these suckers back in my mouth? They seem to be too wide for my gums but that may just be my impression.

Thanks for anything you can tell me,
Wendy in Alabama

[Angel]

Your gums are swollen, try holding some cold water in your mouth (no swishing!) to see if you can get the swelling down a little ... take something like Advil to help too ... then when the swelling is down as much as you can do for now, warm up the denture with some warm water (not hot) and try to get it back in. It IS going to be uncomfortable - you have huge trauma going on in your mouth. Good luck ... really.

[MerryMac]

Ouch! I don't know if this will help but try putting them in slightly forward of your front gum and easing them back until the front gum ridge seats itself down into the denture gently.

What Angel suggested has also worked for me.

[Darrell - Louisiana]

The method MM describes is the way I put mine in when my gums were swollen. The top front sort of hooks up and around the rounded part of the front gums. I think MM described it better.
Good luck Wendy.

[PEM]

I wrote a post and don't know how to see if it was answered? My email address is [e-mail] if someone can help me with this I would so appreciate it.

[Angel]

you need to repost... somehowit is not on here.

[BAnn]

PEM,

I say this all the time but... consider registering on this site so that you can get updates to your postings sent to your email account so you don't miss any feedback to your posts!

Sign up here...
http://www.topix.com/member/register

[PEM]

Thanks so much Angel and BAnn...I finally figured out how to sign up to this site. I posted more than what is shown here and wished I had copied it so I could repost....it's about new dentures and questions I had/have...it's only been a week but no one ever said it was going to be like this...although in just one day I do feel a little better...I just can't stand when I put something in my mouth to eat on one side the other side pops and vice versa...how long before I can eat my favorites like salad, pop corn etc....

I was on a site that talked about new dentures and saw some of the posts and the feedback people got from others. I'd like to know how to contact some of those people as I too have new dentures, one week now, and want to ask some questions. thank you

[BAnn]

Hi PEM!
There are over 2000 posts in it but the "Cheer up New Denture Wearers" thread is a must read for you. I actually read it all the way through back in January when I had my extractions. Took me a few nights here and there to get through all of those posts and a couple of other threads on here. I even took notes (what to buy, things to eat that sounded good, LOL!)! I was amazed at how much information there was on this one site.
Read, then come back and post all of your questions - lots of experts here to help you out.

[Erlene]

I just recently started wearing partials i still have trouble chewing some things but i know that is normal and I'm still going through the healing process but one thing that really disturbes me is that when i eat the food and my mouth gets very dry does anyone know how to solve this problem if there is a solution

[Erlene]

I forgot to mention in my previous question that the partials that I'm wearing are the valplat partials

[Angel]

I have heard that sucking LifeSaver's or hard candies retrains the mind ... it tricks it to believing that it is food and needs to produce saliva. When people first get dentures the situation is reversed. The brain thinks the denture is food and provides too much saliva so when you suck the mint and it is gone, the brain makes the transition. So, it seems like that should work the same for you. When you introduce food into the mouth in addition to your partial, it should start providing more saliva.(all this providing your saliva levels are normal)... other wise there is a condidion called dry mouth syndrome ... so, good luck!

[Denture Wearer Since June]

Hi, I had the same problem - took my uppers out after I got home; couldn't get them back in. I had to wait a few days for the swelling to go down and actually needed antibiotics, though my dentist told me I didn't, he was wrong! After I took them for 5 days, the gums decreased in swelling. I used Benzodent for the gum discomfort before putting my plate in (the lower), and it made it more tolerable. I would suggest eating ice chips, ice cream, anything cold you can get your hands on! Also, I found that by relaxing and taking ibuprofen 1/2 hour before putting them in DOES help! Good luck; I am pleased to say it was worth it!

[Christina]

i just got 26 teeth extracted yesterday =( and got full dentures top and bottom. good news is i didn't swell much on the bottom, which caused it to be very loose and ended up giving me a sore, but now i can't get the bottom back in. i will try what was posted earlier. My problem now is, i cannot get my top denture out. it "hooks" around the bone area above where my eye teeth were at. It's been 35 hours since my extractions. How important is it to take them out. I am able to pull it partially down and have been swishing with salt water to make sure my gums are clean, but i have an appt with my denturist on monday. do i have to put myself in more pain and possibly damage something to get the top denture out or can i just wait till monday? please help.

[sorry]

I don't really know and can only tell you my experience. I had mine extracted on a Monday and was not supposed to take them out. I was supposed to see my dentist on Tuesday and he would remove them. The weather was terrible and I didn't get to go until Thursday, and it wasn't a problem. I didn't even consider taking them out myself. Is there an emergency number for your dentist/oral surgeon/denturist that you could call and ask?

[Angel]

I wouldn't be too concerned ... your mouth is used to it's own bacteria. You are probably causing more swelling by irritating the tissue trying to get them out. Wait unti morning when your tissue is the least swollen and before you have irritated them with swishing, food, etc..... just, first thing try to get them out ... try popping down one side first on the side just behind the eye tooth ... that should pop loose .... then put your finger in the same place on the other side and pull down. Do not try to pull them forward ... Won't work ... good luck ... let us know!

[LilTexanGirl]

Wow, so that answers my question. My denture was taken out by my dentist the same day due to bleeding. So I'm on day 4 and waiting for swelling and soreness to go away before I try to put them in. I did try, but it was not happening. So the denture powder or cream will give cushion? Hope so bc I have stitches and swelling and do not want to irritate any areas before I get to actually wear them. Cannot wait to SMILE!!

[Angel]

LilTexanGirl - keep using the salt water rinsing and if I was you, I would try the iced-tea .... seems like those that did both have had pretty good luck. Swelling will improve before soreness - keep trying in the mornings, and no, the powder/cream doesn't cushion much - it provides suction. Remember ... do not try to put your dentures in by sliding them ... they just go straight UP. Don't put anything into the 'wells' of your dentures until your stitches are out... just on top of the palate if you need suction. Day 4 .... you're going to start healing now ... Let us know.

[LilTexanGirl]

I appreciate your post! I feel that since it's the weekend, and it's day 4, I'm doing ok compared to day 1!

And you know the dentist told me that they only go in one way...um, which way is that, and if they're swollen, they don't haha. So thanks for telling me how they go in! Seriously didn't know. I'm starving and already only weigh 90 lbs, so trying to drink ensures. Thinking about trying some soup-scared. Don't want to cause any irritations. I think I will wait a couple more days to try my dentures on. If I can't get em bk in by Tuesday, only a week later, should I call him about anything? There is so much to remember and forget when going through this traumatic experience. Off to do the saltwater thing;) makes me drool thinking about it haha! But at least it's something other than sweet ensures. I'm trying oh so hard to stay positive.

[Angel]

Oh, yeah, LYG ... go eat! You can do mashed potatos (try the box ... make em' so that you can just swallow them).. have some Cream of Rice, soups/broth, puddings/ice cream, smashed up yams - anything that you don't have to "chew" ... your stomach and intestines will thank you for putting a little real food in your stomach. Just don't think that you can smash up food against the palate - you will set up a fiber revolt like you never want to encounter ... make yourself some smoothies out of fruit/milk/ice ..... yes ... by all means ... get some food in that stomach. Yes, if I were you if by Monday you can't get those up there, I'd at least call - I'm sure they would either call you in and help you, or give you some advice. Don't worry about staying 'positive'... this is pretty traumatic and if you didn't allow yourself to have some peaks and valleys that would not work well ...
Don't worry about irritation - as long as you're not putting pressure that disturbs those stitches you are doing fine ... GO EAT ... How about some Tomato Soup??? Mmmmm, yum!